West Ham eyeing Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud in bold summer move

Target: Olivier Giroud is on West Ham's striker shortlist
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James Benge13 June 2017

West Ham are eyeing a move for Arsenal’s Olivier Giroud as they plot a summer rebuild of their striking department.

The France international has suggested that he will not settle for another season on the bench at Arsenal having spent much of the year backing up Alexis Sanchez and then fighting Danny Welbeck for a starting role.

Giroud signed a new contract at Arsenal in January that ties him to the club until the summer of 2019 and despite having turned 30 during the season would command a sizeable transfer fee in the event that the Gunners chose to sell him.

It is understood that would be an unlikely set of circumstances with Arsene Wenger having consistently backed the French international, who has often borne the brunt of criticism when Arsenal’s form has hit the rocks.

However with the Gunners chasing Kylian Mbappe and Alexandre Lacazette Giroud could feel that a move ensures he gets a regular starting role ahead of the 2018 World Cup.

Speaking at a press conference last week Giroud said: “I want to win the Premier League with the club. After, I do not know the future, it will be necessary to take into account the transfer window.

“I have had limited playing time for several reasons but that is not to say that I lost the confidence of the coach.”

He added: “I will not be content with limited playing time next season.

Arsenal transfer targets for summer 2017

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“It [a transfer] will be a well-thought out decision. But, yes, I want more playing time.”

Giroud is not the only striker on the West Ham radar and Slaven Bilic’s strikeforce is likely to be much changed by the start of next season.

Manchester City’s Kelechi Iheanacho is the subject of a £20m bid whilst Henry Onjekuru could also be bound for the London Stadium, though it is understood that reports the Nigerian striker was undergoing a medical today are wide of the mark.

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